Best Skin Products for Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
Pregnancy is a beautiful experience, and bringing new life into the world is a truly wonderful gift. Carrying this new life does come with some changes to your body, however. The dermatologists at the Dermatology & Mohs Surgery Institute believe you should love your post-pregnancy body as much as your body before. With these tips, you will be able to restore your skin to its glowing and supple state.
What to Know About Skin Care When Pregnant or Breastfeeding
Stretch Marks
During pregnancy, the most common change to a woman’s body is the appearance of stretch marks. A stretch mark occurs when skin shrinks or stretches over a short period of time. It is a type of scar that results because of the quick changes in elastin and collagen. Similar to other scars, stretch marks cannot be completely removed, but there are methods to reduce their appearance.
From the start of pregnancy, be sure to stay hydrated and eat a nutrient-rich diet with foods that include vitamin D, vitamin C, and zinc. Vitamin C is an important element in the creation of collagen. By increasing consumption of vitamin C, collagen will be produced quicker and will help with the elasticity of your skin. In addition, zinc helps with inflammation and the healing of wounds. Zinc will also help minimize the appearance of stretch marks by allowing your skin to be less inflamed while it is going through such rapid changes. Staying hydrated also plays an important role in skin health. Drinking sufficient amounts of water will ensure that your skin stays soft and hydrated. Soft skin develops fewer stretch marks than dry skin, which is a critical part of treating stretch marks.
If you are looking for a more direct attack to target stretch marks, you may opt for a cream or lotion. It is important that you begin using your selected product early on to ensure the best results. Consistency is key. For the best results, apply your chosen product every day throughout your pregnancy. Also, when applying, make sure to massage the product into your stretch marks. This will allow the product to fully saturate and guarantee better results.
When looking for a stretch mark remedy, look for products that contain hyaluronic acid and tretinoin. Hyaluronic acid helps the elasticity of skin and improves its radiance and texture. Tretinoin is typically used to treat fine lines and rough skin. It works to lighten the color of skin and increases the rate at which old skin cells are replaced by new skin cells. A product with these ingredients will produce the best results.
Breastfeeding
As a breastfeeding mother, you have to be careful about the types of products that you put on your skin. This might be frustrating for mothers that suffer from skin conditions, as typical products may contain harmful ingredients. One of the most common ingredients that you should avoid using is retinoids. Typically, retinoids are used to help combat acne and fine lines by inducing cell turnover. However, they can have negative effects on the embryo in the first trimester. Instead, look for products with azelaic acid.
Azelaic acid is typically used to treat rosacea. It helps to clear dark pigmentation as well as acne. Topical erythromycin is another acne medication that can help treat blemishes during pregnancy. If you’re looking for a boost of radiance, try using vitamin C to treat dark spots. These three ingredients work just as well as retinoids but will not cause any harm to you or your newborn.
If you’re interested in learning more about these tips, you can schedule an appointment with the dermatologists at the Dermatology & Mohs Surgical Institute. If you are in or around Bloomington, Illinois, fill out this form to be connected to a dermatologist.